Clotilde, it was a delight to meet you at the Book Cellar on Sunday afternoon. I am so glad that you came to my neighborhood in Chicago. The book was engrossing that on a ride downtown afterward I missed my stop -- and the two stops after it!

I made the Very Chocolate Cookies last night as part of a prize for the high bid at a fundraising auction. (Cookies every month for a year!) They are wonderful with walnuts and now I must go out in search of chocolate nibs for the next batch.

So many of the recipes look enticing and the photography is exquisite. My daughter put her eye down at counter level and said, "she must take the pictures from here."

Here's a report on the May 19 booksigning lunch at Froggy's in Highland Park. As Chicago Bear lumbered into the restaurant, scattering terrorized patrons in every direction, he noticed a very young apparently French woman signing copies of her book. Wow, he thought to himself, this is the genuine Clotilde. After all this time. Having just watched the DVD of The Queen the night before, he knew that he should bow in the presence of royalty, but bowing doesn't come easily to bears, so instead, he bought a copy of the book and blushingly presented it for signature. Bears aren't easily charmed, but the whole event was terrific. Five round tables in the restaurant, a space reserved for Clotilde at each, and she worked her way around each of them as the chef served out creations he had prepared from, of course, the cookbook. One crusty old woman, who had learned to cook when Franklin Roosevelt was president, fixed Clotilde with a beady eye and said, as one might address a kindergarten class, how old are you anyway? She was shocked to learn that Clotilde is only 27 and that she took all of her own food pictures. She admitted to Chicago Bear later that her hearing wasn't very good, but that she loved the book. Afterward, Clotilde posed for pictures with everyone who had a camera, and announced that her goal for the next day--Sunday--was to find a genuine Chicago hot dog. The book, incidentally, is wonderful. The organization is first-rate, the pictures are marvelous, and the recipes inspire quick and purposeful moves toward the kitchen._________________The goal is to fit it all in.

There are things in life that are virtual certainties:
1. Really good musicians make less money than really bad politicians.
2. Men who are attracted to really cute women make foolish promises.
3. Genuine Chicago hot dogs were located yesterday by Clotilde.
We'll have to wait for her updated posting to be sure, but my bet is that it happened. And I'm also betting that she gets salmon in Seattle today or tomorrow._________________The goal is to fit it all in.

CB, thanks for sharing your booksigning lunch with us. Well, the experience, we wouldn't expect you to actually share your lunch with us!_________________Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

cigalechanta-
I was wondering what Clotilde talked about at the French Library (in Boston)... if you could give a short synopsis! I went to the dinner the night before at Chez Henri which was lovely, but Clotilde ran out of time to visit every table. We got to talk to her briefly but were wishing that they had seated us at communal tables which would have also encouraged people to network with each other into a local food community as well as perhaps having more time with Clotilde.

I also hope that Clotilde will have another opportunity to come back to Boston when the weather is better!_________________"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
http://www.robinoriginals.com/eats.html

Hi robinorig - I went to the Boston book signing and it was fantastic! We all sat theatre style in a small/medium size room with a projector showing some photos from Clotilde's blog... and other new ones I hadn't seen. She talked for 45-60 minutes (?? I forget - the time flew!), basically told the story of how her book came to be, starting with her experiences in SF, moving back to Paris, then the blog and eventually going through the different stages of the book creating process. Her love and passion for food was evident throughout the talk. Then there was a question and answer section at the end, most of which is the on the FAQ section of her blog.

After we went to another room where they had samples from the book: C&Z Cake, Raspberry Chocolate Cake, and Green Bean Salad with Pecans and Dried-cured Ham. All were excellent! There was also some wine and guests could mingle around the floor as they wanted. In between the two rooms, Clotilde was signing her book - however, I am glad I decided to have her sign my books before I ate - because her line was much longer than the one for wine! )_________________FemmeBot
http://chezkova.blogspot.com

femmebot-
thanks for the great description of the evening @ French Library in Boston. I wish there had been a little more of a presentation in Cambridge, or that the publicist had structured the evening a little better. I was, unfortunately, at one of the tables that Clotilde had no time to visit with, even though we were there relatively early in the evening. I did talk to her at the door on the way out, so she could autograph my book, but by then everything was rushed and it was late. I wish I had been able to go to both functions!
We did have a full meal of Clotilde's recipes @ Chez Henri, and they were all excellent!

We started with chablis and various hors d'oeuvres including Tartine de Champignons au Cantal and a couple of others that I can't identifiy (one was like little slices of a mini souffle or frittata and the other was a crispy polenta like cracker with a topping).

The first course was Strawberry & Avocado Ceviche or Pistou Soup. My friend & I each got one and shared. Both were delicious! I love the combination of the strawberries with the avocados and fish, it was so refreshing.

The second course was the Green Bean Salad with Pecans and Dry Cured Ham. For such a simple dish, it was fantastic, all the flavors enhanced each other very well!

The Main course was either the Lamb Tagine with Pears & Almonds or The Flemish Beef Carbonade, both served with sides of Couscous, Mashed Potatoes with Anchovy and Zucchini with Olives. Again, we got both main courses and they were both delicious. I especially loved the combination of the pears and almonds with the lamb.

Dessert was individual Chocolate & Zucchini Cakes with a candied zucchini slice, chocolate garnish and a zabaglione cream(not in the book, was added by the chef). I could see the cake going well with creme anglaise as well. I loved the candied zucchini as well.

I will definitely be making some of these dishes and others from the book. I love Clotilde's creative use of contrasting flavors that are otherwise simple but elegant and delicious! I've been a longtime fan of her blog since sometime in late 2003 or so. I don't even remember now how I first found the blog! I'm looking forward to more of her wonderful posts, now if only I had more time to cook! _________________"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
http://www.robinoriginals.com/eats.html

I had the delight of meeting Clotilde at last nite's Seattle event. It was a lovley recipe/wine pairing at a small wine bar. The setting was informal, more like a cocktail party than a book signing. Clotilde was as charming as one would expect, and we got to hear stories, hints, andectdotes and opinions on all sorts of topics from the kitchen to the economy.

The weather was miserable, but today is better, and moblog indicates she is seeing a bit of our fair city today. Seems to me that she will enjoy the sights and tastes of any city she finds herself in!

And I must add that she is so proud of this forum. We talked quite a bit about the courteous, yet passionate dialogue that goes on here. Well done, everyone!

And now I must leave you to indulge in my first recipe from this gorgeous book! I just happen to have the ingredients for Green Bean Salad with dry cured ham and pecans. Will be lovely with our left over Zuni chicken.

I'm so glad I managed to tear myself away from the lab a bit early yesterday to go to the signing. It was lovely to meet Clotilde (and the goodies to nibble were definitely a bonus!) I am definitely going to have fun with this cookbook.

I would love to have been able to go to the dinner @ Impromptu, as I also love Shauna's http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/ blog... thanks for the menu! I can't wait to have time to cook from Clotilde's book! (I'm also waiting for Shauna's book to come out, even though I'm not glutenfree. I found her blog by researching glutenfree for a friend)._________________"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
http://www.robinoriginals.com/eats.html

You can't express your envy! I'm greener than my uniform. I just can't decide if I'm more envious of the company and discussion or the food?!_________________Live as if to die tomorrow. Learn as if to live forever.
Mahatma Gandhi